LOOPON TAMPON
An improved tampon 20 has a tampon body 22 and a removal string 30, having a length (L) between a first end 35 and second end 36 permanently affixed at or along at least one first end 35 of the string 30 to the tampon body 22 and wherein the second end 36 is looped back into the tampon body 22 and attached thereto to form a shortened single loop 30L. The second end 36 can be permanently attached or removably attached to the tampon body 22 and the single loop 30L extends from the tampon body 22 a distance (D) less than half the length (L) of the removal string 30.
This invention relates to an improved sanitary tampon. More particularly to a tampon with a concealed removal string designed to prevent embarrassing string exposure when wearing the device during activities like swimming. The device allowing the bather to wear swimming apparel without concern for the string being visible.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTampon devices are manufactured to enable a woman to participate in activities such as swimming even during the menstrual cycle.
The old prior art tampons were so water absorbent that menstruating women could not or would not be able to swim as the device would also absorb water and when fully saturated would bleed into the water. Current technology has enabled new tampon construction that has a hydrophilic portion for blood absorption and a hydrophobic portion at the distal or string or cord end to block water absorption and thus are well suited for swimming or spa usages. Even the removal string or cord is made of non-water/fluid wicking hydrophobic material. Therefore it is now accepted and hygienically safe to enjoy swimming during this time.
These tampons have a long string or cord extending from the tampon that facilitates removal. This removal string is exposed and easily observable when a woman is wearing a bathing suit. This is embarrassing as it draws attention to the tampon. To avoid this string exposure the current practice is to cut the extending string portions or ends, which are specifically designed to be exposed to facilitate removal, to shorten them to a length that fits well inside body cavity thus concealing them. Unfortunately most women needing to do this may have no access to scissors or knives to cut the excess string if at the club or public swimming pool. Secondarily, if too much string is removed, there is the risk of needing forceps or other means to grasp the tampon when it must be removed. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a safe, reliable product that solves this issue of tampon string exposure from under swimwear or under garments.
The present invention described below provides a solution to prevent exposed “removal strings” while maintaining the safe, reliable use of the removal string.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn improved tampon has a tampon body and a removal string, having a length (L) between a first end and second end permanently affixed at or along at least one first end of the string to the tampon body and wherein the second end is looped back into the tampon body and attached thereto to form a shortened single loop. The second end can be permanently attached or removably attached to the tampon body and the single loop extends from the tampon body less than half the length of the removal string.
The second end can be releasably attached to the tampon body and can be detached from the tampon body to facilitate removal allowing the removal string to be extended to a full removal length. The second end when detached allows the removal string to extend from the tampon body a distance equal to an at least industry standard minimum length of at least 4 inches (10.2 cm). The removal string first and second ends when attached to the tampon body form the single loop in a one piece knotless loop. At least one first end is sewn, hot welded, bonded, adhesively glued or otherwise permanently affixed to the tampon body. Preferably, the removal string is made of a hydrophobic material to prevent water or blood absorption and the tampon body has an upper portion made of a hydrophilic material for improved blood absorption and a lower portion of a water blocking hydrophobic material.
The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
With reference to
Many tampons, alternatively commonly referred to as digital or non-applicator tampons are sold without applicators. These are simply unwrapped from their packaging and simply pushed into the vagina with fingers. These tampons can range in size from 1.5 to 4.5 inches.
Tampon applicators may be made of plastic or cardboard and are of a similar design to a syringe. The applicator consists of two tubes, an outer or barrel 304 and an inner or plunger 302. The outer tube 304 has a smooth surface to aid insertion and sometimes comes with a rounded end that is petaled. As shown in
In the United States, a tampon is considered a class 2 medical device. The majority of tampons sold in the United States are made of rayon or a blend of rayon and cotton. Organic cotton compounds are made from only 100 percent cotton. Tampons are sold individually wrapped to keep them clean. Since the vagina is not a sterile body cavity, and for the most part contains good bacteria, there is no need for any menstrual device to be sterilized. While the materials for use in a tampon can vary, certain treatments can be used to facilitate either the absorbency or the lack of absorbency of the material, it is important to note that the tampons should be safe from any toxic material such as pesticides or chlorine. Such chemicals can add to health concerns. It is recommended by the US FDA that certain guidelines be followed when using tampons to avoid Toxic Shock Syndrome. One is that the woman chooses the lowest absorbency needed for one's flow or bleeding condition, consider using cotton or cloth tampons rather than rayon and change the tampons every 4 to 6 hours. It is often advised that a woman alternate between tampons and pads and to avoid tampon usage overnight or when sleeping. Increased awareness of warning signs of Toxic Shock Syndrome and other tampon associated health risks is helpful to avoid any complications with the use of tampons.
For the purposes of the invention as described herein below, hereinafter the materials for use in a tampon can be any of the materials currently used. Furthermore, the construction can be identical to that of the prior art in all components with the exception of how the removal string or cord is assembled to form the tampon of the present invention.
With reference to
The improved can be manufactured using a method of manufacturing an improved tampon having the steps of providing a tampon body, attaching a removal string, having a length (L) between a first end and second end permanently affixing at or along at least one first end of the string to the tampon body, and looping the second end back into the tampon body and attaching thereto to form a shortened single loop. The step of affixing the second end includes the step of attaching the second end to the tampon body, the second end is permanently attached or removably attached to the tampon body and the single loop extends a distance D from the tampon body less than half the length (L) of the removal string. The second end can be releasably attached to the tampon body and can be detached from the tampon body to facilitate removal allowing the removal string to be extended to a full removal length. The removal string first and second ends when attached to the tampon body form the single loop in a one piece knotless loop. The step of attaching at least one first end includes one or more steps of sewing, hot welding, bonding, adhesively gluing or otherwise permanently affixing the end to the tampon body. An alternative method of manufacturing an improved tampon has the steps of providing a tampon body, attaching two removal strings to the tampon body, and tying together the unattached ends of the two removal strings to form a single knotted loop.
This knotted loop must be configured to extend similarly a short distance (D) from a tampon body to prevent the removal string tied ends from extending outside the body cavity of the vagina. These and other alternative looped designs of the removal string 30 are considered within the scope of the invention.
Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described, which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
Claims
1. An improved tampon comprising:
- a tampon body;
- a removal string having a length (L) between a first end and a second end, wherein the removal string is permanently affixed at or along at least one of the first and second ends of the string to the tampon body; and
- wherein the second end attaches to the tampon body to form a single loop.
2. The improved tampon of claim 1 wherein the second end is permanently attached or removably attached to the tampon body and the single loop extends a distance (D) from the tampon body that is less than approximately half the length L of the removal string.
3. The improved tampon of claim 2 wherein the second end is releasably attached to the tampon body and is configured to be detached from the tampon body to facilitate removal by allowing the removal string to be extended to a full removal length.
4. The improved tampon of claim 3 wherein when the second end is detached, the full removal length is at least approximately 4 inches (10.2 cm).
5. The improved tampon of claim 1 wherein the removal string first and second ends when attached to the tampon body form the single loop in a one piece knotless loop.
6. The improved tampon of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second ends is sewn, hot welded, bonded, adhesively glued or otherwise permanently affixed to the tampon body.
7. The improved tampon of claim 1 wherein the removal string is made of a hydrophobic material to prevent water or blood absorption.
8. The improved tampon of claim 1 wherein the tampon body comprises an upper portion formed of a hydrophilic material for improved blood absorption and a lower portion formed of a water blocking hydrophobic material.
9. A method of manufacturing an improved tampon comprising the steps of:
- providing a tampon body;
- permanently affixing a removal string at or along at least one of first and second ends of the removal string to the tampon body; and
- forming a single loop by attaching the second end of the removal string to the tampon body.
10. The method of manufacturing an improved tampon of claim 9 wherein the step of forming the single loop comprises permanently or removably attaching the second end to the tampon body so that the single loop extends a distance (D) from the tampon body that is less than approximately half a length (L) of the removal string.
11. The method of manufacturing an improved tampon of claim 10 wherein the second end is releasably attached to the tampon body and can be detached from the tampon body to facilitate removal allowing the removal string to be extended to a full removal length.
12. The method of manufacturing an improved tampon of claim 9 wherein the removal string first and second ends when attached to the tampon body form the single loop in a one piece knotless loop.
13. The method of manufacturing an improved tampon of claim 9 wherein the step of affixing at least one of the first and second ends includes one or more steps of sewing, hot welding, bonding, adhesively gluing or otherwise permanently affixing the end to the tampon body.
14. A method of manufacturing an improved tampon comprising the steps of:
- providing a tampon body;
- attaching two removal strings to the tampon body; and
- tying together the unattached ends of the two removal strings to form a single knotted loop.
15. A tampon comprising:
- a tampon body having a distal end;
- a removal mechanism extending from the distal end of the tampon body, wherein the removal mechanism comprises means for facilitating access to the removal mechanism when inserted into a cavity of a user.
16. The tampon of claim 15, wherein the means for facilitating access comprises a loop.
17. The tampon of claim 15, wherein the removal mechanism comprises a removal string having a first end and second end, wherein the second end is looped back into the tampon body and attached to form a shortened single loop.
18. The tampon of claim 17, wherein the second end is releasably attached to the tampon body and configured to be detached from the tampon body to facilitate removal allowing the removal string to be extended to a full removal length.
19. The tampon of claim 17, wherein the single loop extends a distance from the tampon body that is less than half a length of the removal string.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 5, 2012
Publication Date: Sep 5, 2013
Patent Grant number: 9744081
Inventor: Robbin Field Riordan (Roswell, GA)
Application Number: 13/411,943
International Classification: A61F 13/34 (20060101); B29C 65/00 (20060101); B32B 7/08 (20060101); B23P 17/04 (20060101); D05B 23/00 (20060101);